Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 170: First, Give the Brat a Good Beating

When an artist gets inspired and passionate, what kind of behavior can you expect?

The ruins of the daimyo's mansion had already answered that question.

At this moment, Deidara completely forgot about his brother Sasori and the Akatsuki organization.

Deidara immediately created a batch of clay bombs, stuck them on the barrier, and made a hand sign.

"Ha!"

Boom!

With the explosion, a hole large enough for entry appeared in the barrier.

"That was easy?"

Deidara had expected to try a few more times, but one attempt was enough.

Indeed, from the style of this floating fortress, it clearly did not belong to any of the Five Great Shinobi Countries.

Setting up such a large concealment barrier was already surprising. If the barrier's defense was also strong, such a power wouldn't remain unknown in the shinobi world.

With these thoughts, Deidara smiled, controlled his clay bird, and flew inside.

Even if it were one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, he would still dare to enter alone, let alone an unknown fortress.

In the coming time, he would carefully prepare to create an unprecedentedly large fireworks display here!

"Deidara."

Just as Deidara was excitedly imagining the grand explosion of the floating fortress, he heard someone call his name.

He turned his head to see a young man in simple white clothes standing on a rooftop, level with him.

'No one was here just now.'

Despite his obsession with art and his bold intrusion, Deidara hadn't lost his combat awareness.

When he came in, he had looked around and could confirm no one was nearby.

So, where did this person come from, and how did they avoid his detection?

With these thoughts, Deidara discreetly slipped his right hand into his ninja pouch under the wide sleeves of his Akatsuki cloak.

Naturally, the one who appeared was Hagoromo Gengetsu.

He didn't mind Deidara's little movements, especially since he had let him in on purpose.

Remembering what Hagoromo Morinaga had mentioned, he specifically asked before taking action:

"Deidara, do you know about the Hagoromo Clan?"

Hearing this, Deidara, who was secretly preparing, casually replied:

"Hagoromo Clan? Sounds artistic. Is it here? Perfect, I'm about to set off a huge fireworks display here."

Gengetsu's mouth twitched slightly.

His answer was indeed as Hagoromo Morinaga had said, more or less accurate!

This brat had truly forgotten his Hagoromo Clan identity or never paid attention to it in the first place.

Initially planning to speak as the clan leader, Gengetsu decided against it.

With brats, it's better to beat them first.

In the blink of an eye, Gengetsu disappeared from Deidara's sight.

"Where did he go?"

Deidara tensed, quickly scanned the surroundings, and instinctively controlled his clay bird to fly upward.

However, before the clay bird could spread its wings, a hand pierced it from below, ripping it in two.

"So fast!"

In mid-air, Deidara's pupils shrank as he stared intently at Gengetsu, who had instantly torn apart his mount and appeared by his side.

Just as he was about to throw the prepared clay bombs, sparks crackled from Gengetsu's body.

Deidara, unable to dodge, felt his entire body paralyze, and the clay bombs in his hand fizzled out.

Gengetsu slapped Deidara on the forehead.

Feeling his brain nearly knocked out of his skull, Deidara's body tilted and plummeted from the sky.

Boom!

He crashed into the main street of the village, leaving a large crater.

Then, Gengetsu descended gracefully, without a scratch, standing at the edge of the crater.

Due to the moderate height, Deidara wasn't missing any limbs, though he was dazed from the crash.

Seeing Gengetsu reappear beside him, his forehead burning with pain, Deidara, never having suffered such humiliation, snapped back to his senses, angrily shouting:

"An artist can be killed but never humiliated like this!"

"To insult an artist, I'll show you my ultimate art!!"

With that declaration, Deidara's body began to glow intensely white.

He was preparing to self-destruct.

As expected, his body started to inflate, a fanatical look on his face as he yelled:

"Art is an expl—"

Before he could finish his famous line, Gengetsu stomped on his head, crushing it.

Nearby, the newly arrived Hagoromo Morinaga winced at the sight.

But quickly, noticing the headless Deidara turning to clay, he breathed a sigh of relief.

After decapitating Deidara's self-destruct clone and neutralizing it with Lightning Release, Gengetsu looked towards the ground, applying more force with his foot.

Crack!

A large crack quickly spread downward.

Hiding underground with Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique, preparing to escape, Deidara stared in shock at the sunlight streaming down and the person whose brilliance even the sun couldn't overshadow.

He never imagined someone could handle him so easily.

In their brief encounter, Gengetsu hadn't used genjutsu, merely ordinary methods to toy with him.

It was like an adult fighting a child.

The gap was too vast!

Deidara didn't know who this guy was.

Unlike with Itachi, he could at least respect him.

But one thing remained:

"Being defeated so easily, the enemy showed no amazement at my art. This is too much of a failure! My art is far more than what I just showed."

"Since that's the case, I'll turn myself into art, leaving an unprecedentedly massive explosion and scar here. That way, my art will receive unparalleled praise! Hmm!"

To ensure his art wasn't belittled, Deidara truly decided to self-destruct.

He tore open his shirt, ready to unleash the mouth sealed on his left chest.

Gengetsu, of course, wouldn't give Deidara the chance to self-destruct. In a flash, he appeared by his side.

Deidara tried to dodge but realized no matter how he moved, he couldn't escape Gengetsu's slap.

Again!

Seeing no way to avoid it, Deidara hastily said:

"Wait! At least give me a chance to show my art!"

It was futile.

Seeing the slap descending, Deidara could only resentfully shout:

"Don't hit the head!"

Smack!

Same spot as before, Gengetsu slapped Deidara on the forehead.

This time, with a bit more force.

Deidara's eyes drooped, teeth gritted, and as he lost consciousness, he stubbornly muttered:

"Art... is eternal!!"

Thud.

Deidara collapsed, completely knocked out.